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X-37B US miltary spaceplane returns to Earth
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MartinW View Drop Down
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    Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 12:17pm
X-37B%20prototype%20%28US%20Air%20Force%29 The X-37B was launched into orbit seven months ago on a classified mission
 
A prototype spaceplane built for the US military has returned to Earth after seven months in orbit.

The unpiloted X-37B touched down at a US Air Force base in California at 0116 PST (0916 GMT).

The project has been shrouded in secrecy, prompting widespread speculation about the craft's purpose.

The Air Force has not said whether it carried anything in its cargo bay, but insists the primary purpose of the mission was to test the craft itself.

The X-37B was launched atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 22 April, with a maximum mission duration of 270 days
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allardjd View Drop Down
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Points: 4506 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote allardjd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2010 at 4:36am
You'd best be careful posting RW Aviation articles under General Chat.  I understand the forum moderator here is a little anal about such things at times.
John Allard
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Magic Man View Drop Down
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Points: 5336 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Magic Man Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2010 at 10:16am
Touche...
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MartinW View Drop Down
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Points: 26722 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MartinW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2010 at 12:11pm
 Shocked
 
Come on, who was it? Who moved it?
 
Space flight has traditionally been put in Chat. Been that way for years. Okay it has wings, but it operates in an airless environment in space, for seven months in this case, apart from it's brief reentry.
 
A moderator, moving a moderators topic is akin to a declaration of war. Wink
 
I understand the forum moderator here is a little anal about such things at times.
 
No John... he's not anal, he's following explicit instructions given to him by Mr Ras. Are you saying Mr Ras is anal? Shocked He may ban you for that.
 
P.S. Is this retribution, or revenge? Wink
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VulcanB2 View Drop Down
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Quote The project has been shrouded in secrecy, prompting widespread speculation about the craft's purpose.

I'll have a good guess: its mission is to capture and return to the US, captured satellites (or part thereof) and other interesting objects from space.

They already have adequate satellite launch capability - this is akin to the ROVs sent to the depths of the oceans...

7 months is a long time to be floating in space - more than adequate time to get close to a target of interest and examine it/block it/disable it.

Wouldn't surprise me if several of these flew at once.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37

Best regards,
Vulcan.
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allardjd View Drop Down
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Points: 4506 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote allardjd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2010 at 3:42pm

Quote 7 months is a long time to be floating in space - more than adequate time to get close to a target of interest and examine it/block it/disable it.

...or attach something to it that would jam or otherwise disable it by remote command at a later time if the owner misbehaved?
 
Pretty cool, eh?

 
John Allard
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allardjd View Drop Down
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Points: 4506 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote allardjd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2010 at 3:58pm

Quote No John... he's not anal, he's following explicit instructions given to him by Mr Ras. Are you saying Mr Ras is anal?  He may ban you for that.

I have the highest respect for the RAS-man.  His judgment is impeccable, even in choice of cats.  He could be a Scottish judge, impoving the whole lot.
 

Quote P.S. Is this retribution, or revenge?

Oh, neither!  Those would be unmistakable - you wouldn't have to ask. 

John Allard
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MartinW View Drop Down
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From our friend Wiki...
 
Quote

As part of its Space Support mission goals, X-37 was designed to rendezvous with friendly satellites to refuel them, or to replace failed solar arrays using a robotic arm. Its payload could also support Space Control (Defensive Counter-Space, Offensive Counter-Space), Force Enhancement and Force Application.[6]

 
 
Quote

The X-37 is expected to operate in a velocity range of up to Mach 25 on reentry. Among the technologies to be demonstrated with the X-37 are improved thermal protection systems, avionics, the autonomous guidance system, and an advanced airframe. The vehicle is powered by a Rocketdyne AR2-3 engine.[29] The AR2-3 was the human-rated rocket powerplant for the dual-power NF-104A astronaut training vehicle and was given a new flight certification for use on the X-37 with hydrogen peroxide/JP-8 propellants.[30] The X-37B now uses a hydrazine monopropellant rocket.[31]

The X-37 has a payload bay available for experiments and other space payloads. It features thermal protection systems that are improved from previous generations of spacecraft.[6] The thermal protection system uses improved silica ceramic tiles.[31]

 
Quote X-37B

Data from USAF,[1][6] Boeing,[32] Physorg.com,[33] Airspacemag.com[34]

General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.9 m)
  • Wingspan: 14 ft 11 in (4.5 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
  • Loaded weight: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× rocket engine
  • Power: Gallium arsenide solar cells with lithium-ion batteries
  • Payload & Payload Bay: 500 lb (227 kg), 7 × 4 ft (2.1 × 1.2 m)

Performance

  • Orbital speed: 17,500 mph (28,200 km/h)
  • Orbit: Low Earth orbit
  • Orbital time: Up to 270 days[35]
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Stringbean View Drop Down
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Points: 912 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stringbean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2010 at 10:05pm
Originally posted by MartinW MartinW wrote:

  Come on, who was it? Who moved it?
A moderator, moving a moderators topic is akin to a declaration of war. Wink
 
As Haryy Hill would say in 'TV Burp',....:FIGHT:!!!
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